Ryan Nicol
A pair of companion bills has been filed in the Florida Legislature with the goal of granting more rights to renters throughout the state.
“Our landlord-tenant laws have been out of balance for a long time, tipping the balance in favor of landlords,” said Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Miami-Dade Democrat who filed the Senate version of the bill (SB 1794).
“Especially at a time when affordable housing is at a crisis point in our state, we need to make sure tenants are protected as they spend more and more simply to keep a roof over their head.”
Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a Winter Park Democrat, introduced the House version of the bill (HB 1283).
Among the provisions in the legislation are requirements to give advanced notice of rent increases, a prohibition on discriminating against prospective tenants based on sexual orientation or gender identity and a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during a state of emergency.
“I have seen first hand the exploitation of Hurricane Maria evacuees by predatory landlords in our area: unjust evictions, stolen application fees and deposits, and zero housing security during times of crisis,” Smith said.
The legislators say the state’s lack of affordable housing motivated the move to help protect the ability of renters to find, and stay in, an apartment. The bills grant renters a “right of first refusal” to purchase a unit should a landlord decide to sell.
“Our working families cannot thrive without reliable and affordable housing; I’m proud to partner with Sen. Rodriguez on this groundbreaking vision for Florida’s renters,” Smith said.
3 comments
Gary
March 7, 2019 at 6:18 pm
this looks like another garbage piece of legislation!
Jay, Orlando
March 10, 2019 at 1:37 am
It’s good, actually.
E_ticket_lizabeth
March 8, 2019 at 9:39 am
Let’s take a long, hard look at all the property management companies out there that don’t renew a lease so they can charge the tenant for all the repainting and/or carpet that should have been replaced as normal wear and tear. Let’s take a look at application fees being taken even when applications have already been filed for a rental. Let’s take a look at companies forcing renters to pay “re-application” fees just to renew their leases. How about landlords that replace broken fixtures or appliances with the lowest quality cheapest option available, even if it’s not even close to what was in the rental when the renter signed the lease? Landlords, whether owners or property managers, are mostly crooks. The market is so tight, they know they can do whatever they want, because if renters don’t have the ability to purchase a house at today’s sky-high prices, they’re stuck renting at sky-high prices and must do whatever the landlord says. Renters are completely at the mercy of this landlords’ market!
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